Workenesh Edesa Triumphs Again at Osaka Women’s Marathon

Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa showcased her dominance once again at the Osaka Women’s Marathon, a prestigious World Athletics Platinum Label road race, successfully defending her title with a commanding performance on Sunday, January 26.

Edesa, who set the course record last year with a time of 2:18:51, completed this year’s race in 2:21:00. Despite facing stiff competition and challenging weather conditions, she secured her second consecutive victory, solidifying her place as one of the top marathoners in the world.

The race began with seven athletes staying close to the pacemakers through the first 10km, maintaining a steady pace. However, as the kilometers progressed, the field began to thin. By the halfway point, only Edesa, Japan’s Kana Kobayashi and Yuka Suzuki, and debut marathoner Nanaka Izawa remained in the leading group.

After 25km, Edesa demonstrated her strength by breaking away from the pack, leaving her competitors trailing behind. One by one, her challengers fell back, with Kobayashi briefly closing the gap before being dropped for good. Edesa reached the 30km mark alone, holding a significant lead over Suzuki and Kobayashi, who were vying for second place.

Edesa maintained her pace through the final kilometers, crossing the 40km mark in 2:13:26. Kobayashi and Suzuki continued their battle for second, with Kobayashi ultimately pulling ahead in the final stretch. Kobayashi finished second with a personal best of 2:21:19, while Suzuki claimed third in 2:21:33, also setting a new personal best.

Other notable performances included Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, who finished fourth with a time of 2:24:03, and Japan’s Natsumi Matsushita, who secured fifth place in 2:26:04.

Edesa’s commanding performance reinforces her reputation as a formidable force in the marathon world. Her ability to maintain composure and lead from the front highlights her strategic prowess and endurance, ensuring her place among the sport’s elite.